A national call-in day has been organized by the Coalition on Human Needs and other organizations. Please read below and take action TODAY.
COVID-19 Senate Call-In Day – TODAY (Wed.)
At the moment, Congress seems unlikely to provide additional relief to those suffering the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Your Senators need to hear that this is not acceptable.
The House passed a robust COVID-relief package in May. Last week, the Senate voted on, but failed to advance, an inadequate, “skinny” COVID-relief bill. Negotiations between the House Democrats and the White House have not been successful. The only way that families and communities will get timely relief is for the Senate to pass a meaningful, robust relief bill within the next two weeks.
If a bill isn’t passed within the next two weeks, then those in need of support will have to wait until after the election — and very likely until January — before Congress takes up COVID-relief legislation again. As each day passes, more families slip closer to economic disaster.
Call your Senators today to tell them it’s time to #DoYourJob!
Call (1) 888-496-3502.
Call twice to reach both of your Senators.
You do not need to know your Senators’ names. After you dial this number, you will hear a short recording, and be asked to enter your zip code. You will then be automatically connected to one of your Senator’s offices. When you call a second time from the same number, you will automatically be connected to the office of your other Senator.
Here’s what you might say:
“Hi, my name is [name] and I’m a constituent from [town]. I am calling to urge the Senator to support passage NOW of a robust COVID-19 relief bill to protect families and communities from economic disaster. Millions of families have lost their jobs and can’t afford their rent, food, and health care. People and small businesses need real help right now to weather this crisis. Please pass robust pandemic-relief legislation.”
If the above toll-free number is busy, or if you prefer, you can find the names, phone numbers, and social media contact information for your Senators at www.senate.gov. If you already know your Senators’ names, you can call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 (NOT toll-free) and ask to be connected to their offices. Tweeting is also an effective way to reach your Senators.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey recently revealed how many people in the U.S. are falling through the cracks:
- 22 million people are in households that don’t have enough to eat;
- At least 14% of households are behind on rent;
- 45% of adults live in households that have lost income from work—disproportionately impacting people of color: nearly 6 in 10 Latinx households and more than half of Black households have lost income.
- 76 million adults—one-third of all American households—said in the past week they found it somewhat or very difficult to pay their usual household bills.
Medicaid and other state health programs are at risk: As people lose their jobs or some of their income, more children and adults will become eligible for Medicaid, which will increase state expenses. At the same time, state tax revenues are falling due to decreased economic activity. When state budgets are stressed, state policy-makers often cut Medicaid. Until the public-health emergency is over, states are not permitted to constrict Medicaid eligibility or benefits, or to disenroll any Medicaid beneficiaries, but they can cut payments to health care providers, which will make it more difficult to find a Medicaid provider in a timely fashion. They are also likely to reduce the number of agency personnel and cut other health programs.
Children, families, and communities are suffering, and cannot wait until January for help.
Call your Senators today and demand immediate action to pass a COVID-19 relief package.
Tell Your Senators, #DoYourJob
Call (1) 888-496-3502.
Call twice to reach both of your Senators.
Thank you for taking action.
Encourage confidence to act